Bush targets election-year economic woes

AFP, July, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US President George W. Bush, targeting election-year fears of an economic meltdown, urged lawmakers Tuesday to help battle soaring energy costs and shore up the "basically sound" US banking system.

"The bottom line is this: We're going through a tough time," Bush said at his first press conference since April, but he stressed that voters "can have confidence in the long-term foundation of our economy."

With just over 100 days before the November election and less than 200 before his term ends, Bush tackled the pocketbook worries that US voters say top their list of concerns, even above the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I think the system basically is sound, I truly do. I understand there's a lot of nervousness, but the economy's growing, productivity's high, trade's up, people are working (although) it's not as good as we'd like," he said. ...